Powell Cancels Athens Visit Amid Protests
Demonstrating once again that the Bush Administration does not deal with dissent well, Colin Powell has cancelled his visit to tonight's Olympic Games closing ceremonies. After being almost universally reviled outside our borders, you'd think these folks would be used to being the object of protests and generalized derision.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell on Saturday canceled a weekend visit to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics, just hours after demonstrators marched through central Athens.
Powell couldn't attend because of "urgent responsibilities," the foreign ministry said.
In a letter, Powell thanked Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis "for the especially successful and secure organization of the games."
In Washington, State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said the anti-American protests in Athens played no role in Powell's decision.
"The secretary considered a number of factors. The press of business in Washington made him decide he could not visit at this time," Cooper said.
It's sure a heck of a lot easier to stick to the one place on Earth where Republicans can count on being adored: New York's Madison Square Garden, site of this week's Republican National Rich White Folk Convention. Why brave angry protest in some Third World Country when you can bask in the sunshine of this week's RNC lovefest?
So much for displaying the courage of your convictions, eh?
